Telecommunications system cooling fan incorporating a compact vibration isolator

Abstract

The present invention provides a cooling fan assembly for use in a telecommunications system, including: a cooling fan; a housing; a rigid pin disposed through the housing an into a mounting hole manufactured into the cooling fan; a vibration isolator disposed about the rigid pin within the mounting hole; and a washer disposed about the rigid pin between the cooling fan and the housing. The vibration isolator is a cylindrical vibration isolator. The vibration isolator is made of a polymeric vibration damping material. The washer is made of material with a low coefficient of friction. The vibration isolator is operable for damping vibrations emanating from the cooling fan. The washer is operable for allowing some movement of the cooling fan perpendicular to the rigid pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling fan assembly for use in a telecommunications system, comprising:
 a cooling fan;   a housing;   a rigid pin disposed through the housing an into a mounting hole manufactured into the cooling fan;   a vibration isolator disposed about the rigid pin within the mounting hole; and   a washer disposed about the rigid pin between the cooling fan and the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a cylindrical vibration isolator. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a polymeric vibration damping material. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the washer comprises a material with a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration isolator is operable for damping vibrations emanating from the cooling fan. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the washer is operable for allowing some movement of the cooling fan perpendicular to the rigid pin. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing a cooling fan assembly for use in a telecommunications system, comprising:
 providing a cooling fan;   providing a housing;   disposing a rigid pin through the housing an into a mounting hole manufactured into the cooling fan;   disposing a vibration isolator about the rigid pin within the mounting hole; and   disposing a washer about the rigid pin between the cooling fan and the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling fan assembly method of  claim 7 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a cylindrical vibration isolator. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling fan assembly method of  claim 7 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a polymeric vibration damping material. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling fan assembly method of  claim 7 , wherein the washer comprises a material with a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling fan assembly method of  claim 7 , wherein the vibration isolator is operable for damping vibrations emanating from the cooling fan. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling fan assembly method of  claim 7 , wherein the washer is operable for allowing some movement of the cooling fan perpendicular to the rigid pin. 
     
     
         13 . A cooling fan vibration isolator for use in a telecommunications system, comprising:
 a rigid pin disposed through a housing an into a mounting hole manufactured into a cooling fan;   a vibration isolator disposed about the rigid pin within the mounting hole; and   a washer disposed about the rigid pin between the cooling fan and the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling fan vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a cylindrical vibration isolator. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling fan vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein the vibration isolator comprises a polymeric vibration damping material. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling fan vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein the washer comprises a material with a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling fan vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein the vibration isolator is operable for damping vibrations emanating from the cooling fan. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling fan vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein the washer is operable for allowing some movement of the cooling fan perpendicular to the rigid pin.